ID :
70704
Thu, 07/16/2009 - 16:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/70704
The shortlink copeid
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION BILL TO BE TABLED IN LOWER HOUSE
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- The Personal Data Protection Bill aimed
at safeguarding the confidentiality of an individual's personal data and
preventing misuse of the data by any irresponsible party will be tabled at the
coming Lower House of Parliament sitting.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said under the
Act, a Personal Data Protection Commission would be established to investigate
cases of misuse of personal data.
"The government has received many complaints on the misuse of personal data
of individuals which have prevented them from benefiting or getting their rights
from certain policies or programmes," he told reporters at his office Wednesday.
"Under the Act, the data cannot be kept by certain parties over a long
period but must be destroyed after it has outlived its original use. If it is
not destroyed, the commission can order its destruction.
"Therefore, an individual who suspects that his personal data has been
manipulated or misused outside the permitted time frame can ask the commission
to investigate."
He said the public could also appeal to a tribunal set up under the Act, if
they were dissatisfied with the handling of their personal data.
However, Rais said, the Act would only be applicable in the private sector
and not the government sector as each ministry had its own collection of data.
He said meanwhile, the government had also taken steps to protect the
personal data of individuals from being violated.
"This law is related to our goal of ensuring that the electronics which have
controlled our lives today will have a positive impact in such areas as trade
and commerce, in particular e-trade and e-commerce.
"If the Bill is passed and the Act implemented, e-trade and e-commerce will
increase, making Malaysia a centre for knowledge-based and electronic-based
business with ensured integrity and data security," he said.
Rais said a consumer behaviour study by Visa International in 2006 revealed
that theft or loss of individuals' personal or financial data was the biggest
fear among consumers worldwide, with 64 per cent of the respondents stating
their fear over this.
He said the details of the Personal Data Protection Act would be made public
in October.
-- BERNAMA
at safeguarding the confidentiality of an individual's personal data and
preventing misuse of the data by any irresponsible party will be tabled at the
coming Lower House of Parliament sitting.
Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said under the
Act, a Personal Data Protection Commission would be established to investigate
cases of misuse of personal data.
"The government has received many complaints on the misuse of personal data
of individuals which have prevented them from benefiting or getting their rights
from certain policies or programmes," he told reporters at his office Wednesday.
"Under the Act, the data cannot be kept by certain parties over a long
period but must be destroyed after it has outlived its original use. If it is
not destroyed, the commission can order its destruction.
"Therefore, an individual who suspects that his personal data has been
manipulated or misused outside the permitted time frame can ask the commission
to investigate."
He said the public could also appeal to a tribunal set up under the Act, if
they were dissatisfied with the handling of their personal data.
However, Rais said, the Act would only be applicable in the private sector
and not the government sector as each ministry had its own collection of data.
He said meanwhile, the government had also taken steps to protect the
personal data of individuals from being violated.
"This law is related to our goal of ensuring that the electronics which have
controlled our lives today will have a positive impact in such areas as trade
and commerce, in particular e-trade and e-commerce.
"If the Bill is passed and the Act implemented, e-trade and e-commerce will
increase, making Malaysia a centre for knowledge-based and electronic-based
business with ensured integrity and data security," he said.
Rais said a consumer behaviour study by Visa International in 2006 revealed
that theft or loss of individuals' personal or financial data was the biggest
fear among consumers worldwide, with 64 per cent of the respondents stating
their fear over this.
He said the details of the Personal Data Protection Act would be made public
in October.
-- BERNAMA
